How to impress a flight attendant

[bossreggie]

Bossreggie - I would be fascinated to know how you have managed what you have in your life. You have said you had a very simple upbringing and I am guessing that you are now extremely wealthy given the amount of J and F travel you do. I believe you are in property development (?) but would love to know your story of how you got there!?!

I think wealth is very relative. If James Packer woke up in the morning and had my wealth..... He'd probably jump off the Gap!

If someone on say, $150k woke up in the morning with my wealth.... They'd probably think they'd won the lotto!

I'd be happy to discuss "my story", but it's not something I'd do on a forum. Come to the AKL lunch or come along to a drinks night some time!!

Property is not how I made my money initially. I have a large commercial property portfolio which I have built up over the years. I had definitely focused on commercial property as the tenants pay all the outgoings. Also the rent is increased regularly. In the last couple of years I purchased a large number of residential properties from developers in SYD and MEL who were having difficulty selling them due to the GFC. As a cash buyer, I was able to purchase them at great prices, well under actual valuation, ensuring an excellent capital gain.

The best advice I could ever give someone at say, 20 - 25 years old, is to get into the property market. (not necessarily residential) I purchased my first apartment at 20 years old and I worked bloody hard to pay it off. Once you have some equity, then you are in a position to capitalise on an opportunity when one arises.

I hope that helps.

 

[smit0847]

^^ thanks - that does help!

I'm 28, currently saving for my first investment property which I intend to buy towards the end of this year. I have a great job and few outgoings (no family etc - my Y travel is my main one lol!). My father is a semi-retired commercial property valuer (as well as having several investment properties), so has been able to give both my sister and I very valuable advice on how to purchase property but its always interesting and encouraging to hear about those who have benefited from the property market!

 

[JohnM]

Not on my flights this week

Or perhaps I'm just not old enough to appreciate them

I'm more than old enough but, with few exceptions, I still don't :mrgreen:.

 

[jb747]

I tell the flight crew when I board that I was going to buy them all some special chocolates from ALDI, but instead I decided to sponsor a child through World Vision. I'm pretty sure they spat in my coffee once because they definitely don't have cappuccino machines on board.

Rather like a relative of mine, who decided that buying a goat from World Vision, and giving it away in the third world was something that I'd really like to do. I think she was upset when told I like goat curry, and wanted to know where the goat was....


And on the original topic...manners, manners, and manners. The biggest complaint about crew that I see here is that they were 'rude'. And, that's exactly the biggest complaint I hear about passengers. The reality is that 99% of both groups are nice people, but that other small percentage manage to upset well beyond what should be their reach. And the double banger, when they hit each other is more than twice as bad.

 

[juddles]

Rather like a relative of mine, who decided that buying a goat from World Vision, and giving it away in the third world was something that I'd really like to do. I think she was upset when told I like goat curry, and wanted to know where the goat was....


And on the original topic...manners, manners, and manners. The biggest complaint about crew that I see here is that they were 'rude'. And, that's exactly the biggest complaint I hear about passengers. The reality is that 99% of both groups are nice people, but that other small percentage manage to upset well beyond what should be their reach. And the double banger, when they hit each other is more than twice as bad.

Laughed out loud re the goat As far as the rest of your post, all truth.

 

[JohnK]

Not on my flights this week

Or perhaps I'm just not old enough to appreciate them

Are you saying I am too old?

Isn't there a saying that says "You are only as old as the woman you feel?". But I would not know what that meant anyway!

 

[dfcatch]

Are you saying I am too old?

Isn't there a saying that says "You are only as old as the woman you feel?". But I would not know what that meant anyway!

Well that saying just proves I should definitely stay away from AA FAs (unless I want to qualify for the pension early )

I would never suggest you were old JohnK...... Just that I'm still a whipper-snapper

 

[JohnM]

And on the original topic...manners, manners, and manners. The biggest complaint about crew that I see here is that they were 'rude'. And, that's exactly the biggest complaint I hear about passengers. The reality is that 99% of both groups are nice people, but that other small percentage manage to upset well beyond what should be their reach. And the double banger, when they hit each other is more than twice as bad.

I absolutely agree with you jb747. It is obvious that staff would have the same general descriptor for customers as they have of staff. By the same token, I would hate to have to put up with the cough that FAs and check-in staff clearly often get. Same for all front-line service providers. Do unto others...

 

[amaroo]

I absolutely agree with you jb747. It is obvious that staff would have the same general descriptor for customers as they have of staff. By the same token, I would hate to have to put up with the cough that FAs and check-in staff clearly often get. Same for all front-line service providers. Do unto others...

It's the same all way around. Doesn't matter what ones occupation is - there are many people in roles they should not be in.

 

[bigjobs]

Wait ... so a slap on the cough and wink as they go past doesn't work ... ??? and being a rude prick isn't going to help either ...

Man I am glad we had a 7 page thread to get to the bottom of this.

 

[jb747]

Wait ... so a slap on the cough and wink as they go past doesn't work ... ??? and being a rude prick isn't going to help either ...

Works well if interested in wearing ones' dinner, or if you'd like to meet a nice policeman......

 

[haydensydney]

I guess the thing that concerns me is that I would look sycophantic if I whipped out the choccy pack..

Your right though, giving chocolates and gifts is sycophantic.

These people are there to do a job and I wouldn't like to cloud the waters and complicate a professional relationship. Much like how corporates are required to maintain a gift register - gifts should not be used to influence behaviour, decisions or conduct whilst on the job... same thing applies in the sky.

You don't see me giving boxes of chocolates to the taxi driver or the librarian in the State Library. Why do it for FA's?

 

[ozbeachbabe]

I can't remember what thread it was on but Taezar mentioned that on arriving at a destination her seatmate asked if she was on TV. When she said no, the other pax commented how 'nice' the crew had been to her. I think this was primarily due to Taezar being nice to them.

 

[Cruiser Elite]

Such an interesting thread - must admit I never have nor probably ever will give chockies to flight crew but you never know.

But it does in my mind raise a huge number of questions - some being:

1. Do you givors gift chockies to both M & F flight crew members?

2. Do you givors gift chockies to ALL flight crew or only those in your cabin?

3. Do you givors gift chockies prior to take-off / post take-off / post landing?

4. Do you givors gift chockies and then repossess said chockies if service delivery unsatisfactory?

I might add I am quite guilty myself of loading up outbound luggage with small chocolate bars from WW's to give to the waitresses at 3 different Beijing bars I frequent - they love them - but they are paid like sixpence a month - FA's? Not so sure I would come at that but each to his own.

Sorry to go on but best gift you can ever give SQ FA's is to get one of those little pre-addressed note papers and hand write a letter of appreciation for the level of service they afforded you on your flight and include their names - then seal it up and give to FS prior to landing - big + for SQ crew.

 

[Nigelinoz]

O/T. If I am staying in a hotel for 3 or more nights, I also give a box of chocolates to the housekeeping staff. I leave them on the desk with a small thank you note. Once again, it is done without the expectation of anything in return. (I promise, I don't want extra shampoo!)

O/TLast week I spent 5 nights at the Holiday Inn in Melbourne,in those 5 days I received absolutely excellent service from the housekeeping lady,she was absolutely great and
really made my stay enjoyable,now some people may say she was just doing a job she gets paid for and that's true but I really appreciated it and so on the last morning I
gave her a box of chocolates and $20 tip,she was so touched she almost cried.
I did it because I appreciated the service she had given me and genuinely felt she deserved it,and it made me feel good to show that I appreciated everything she had done.
Cheers
N'oz

 

[JohnM]

Slightly OT, but I once was behind a woman at the Woolies checkout who was being just plain horrible to the checkout girl, for no other reason it seemed than she was just in a foul mood. There was no valid reason for complaint about service - she was simply being nasty to a person she seemed to regard as inferior or in a weak position. The checkout girl was in no position to answer back - but I certainly was on her behalf :evil:. I can tell you that the b*tch departed with her tail well and truly between her legs after I gave her a very public serve on what right she thought she had to speak to someone that way.

The checkout girl just stood there somewhat stunned but the woman had clearly upset her. I just told her it was OK; she couldn't defend herself but I sure as hell could.

Back on topic, there have been a few times that FAs have given me a bottle of wine late in the flight after I've had some friendly, interesting and fun conversation during the flight (it's happened on QF, AA domestic (top that! ) and Delta (Int'l) that immediately come to mind). One occasion I recall having to refuse because of the liquids security issue as I was making a connection.

 

[bossreggie]

Such an interesting thread - must admit I never have nor probably ever will give chockies to flight crew but you never know.

But it does in my mind raise a huge number of questions - some being:

1. Do you givors gift chockies to both M & F flight crew members? Yes

2. Do you givors gift chockies to ALL flight crew or only those in your cabin? I give the chocolates to whomever gives me my pre takeoff drink. Or, prior to take off, I hand them to whomever is at the front.

3. Do you givors gift chockies prior to take-off / post take-off / post landing? Always prior to take off.

4. Do you givors gift chockies and then repossess said chockies if service delivery unsatisfactory? Never repossess them!

I will just add, usually when I hand them over I say "Happy Saturday" (or whatever the day of the week is) Then simply wish them a good flight and add something along the lines of, "don't eat them all yourself".

 

[jb747]

..... I really appreciated it and so on the last morning I gave her a box of chocolates and $20 tip,she was so touched she almost cried.

Interesting that it's (sort of) the done thing to tip waiters, but not other staff. In all cases, they're just doing their job....and I've never seen a waiter do more because I chose a more expensive meal, and yet it seems the done thing to tip a percentage. I'm sure that cleaning staff are not well paid, and I suspect they really see the worst of people, and yet the idea of tipping them probably doesn't cross most people's minds.

Having said that...in general I consider tipping to be a disease, which simply allows some people to pay their workers less than they should. The lovely habit that some restaurants have of including the tip within the bill (in which case it's generally generous, and inversely proportional to the quality of the service) really gets up my nose.

Plenty of people give me tips about how to fly the jet (generally about the landing...). I always ask how the last landing they did was....

 

[Cruiser Elite]

2. Do you givors gift chockies to ALL flight crew or only those in your cabin? I give the chocolates to whomever gives me my pre takeoff drink. Or, prior to take off, I hand them to whomever is at the front.

Still not 100% clear here mate - chockies only to that FA who hands you your drink? Chockies to all in your cabin? Chockies to entire crew?

OT: One of the lounge ladies in SQ MEL lounge I have a great relationship with when I am in J lounge - she trots next door and gets me glass after glass of Moet instead of the Ozzie vinegar they serve there - I wrote a great note of appreciation of her efforts to lounge management a month ago - think she might get a box of chockies next Thursday when I depart - love that Moet.

 

[Cruiser Elite]

Interesting that it's (sort of) the done thing to tip waiters, but not other staff. In all cases, they're just doing their job....and I've never seen a waiter do more because I chose a more expensive meal, and yet it seems the done thing to tip a percentage. I'm sure that cleaning staff are not well paid, and I suspect they really see the worst of people, and yet the idea of tipping them probably doesn't cross most people's minds.

jb this is a point that has always fascinated me - but the hotel scenario is what really intrigues me.

I check into a hotel in Beijing - I go up to room - bell boy brings luggage up - as matter of custom he gets tip - same on departure. Firstly what about the back room boy or girl who takes my booking - he / she is contributing to my exp - the girls at reception - they are contributing - so on and so with literally dozens of people in dozens of positions within the hotel structure - like the maintenance guy who comes up at 3am and fixes the air con so I am not melting - yet the bell boy in most cases only one who gets a tip - such a vexed question.

Sorry to rant - sorry to go OT bosreggie